The life of journalist is changing just like that of an engineer. Perhaps even more. Just ask me, the journalist.
Consider the mega-package coming from Design News about how Norm Abram, host of the New Yankee Workshop uses the latest materials, fasteners and wood working techniques. Not only did I file about 4,500 words spread across a main story and three sidebars, I produced nine podcasts, a camcorded segment on the hidden secrets in Norm’s workshop and of course, a photo gallery. The package will go online up next week and be part of our cover package in the Sept. 3 issue. And I’ll write a column for that issue the web.
Try outsourcing that to India.
Untill a decade or so ago, you filed your stories, supplied some art in the form of photos and infographics and helped out with the idea for an illustration. Then you proofed your pages and were done. Now, the fun is just starting after you file your stories. Just like Norm, who is also master carpenter on This Old House, leaves very little scrap after a project, there isn’t a scrap of information left in my notebook, audio left on my recorder, video left in the camcorder or photo left in the camera. I asked a colleague six month ago after his marathon video coverage of a trade show if blogs would kill journalism and he responded that blogs and the pace and varied nature of the web would "kill him" first.
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